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Sir,
YOur sorrow is too accurate, and studied, to be true; and an afflicted person that writes such brave things, hath no great need of any thing of mine to solace him. J will therefore forbeare a taske▪ which I conceive to be so
nedlesse; and will be contented to tell you, that J know how to disco∣ver counterfeit sorrows. No man could act a Desperato better than you. Panigarola made not such ex∣clamations when hee preacht, that there will be signes in the Sunne and in the Moone. And it is a pleasure to see you write of the end of the world, of the falling of the starres, and the finall ruine of Nature, & all this, up∣on occasion of my Niece, labouring of a feaver. This is to give Virgil the lye, that calls your profession a dumb Science. For indeed, to finde so many ornaments & Tropes upō such a vulgar Theme, could not be without having a treasurie of words, and without teaching this Mute, Rhetorick. Yet me thinkes, you should husband and manage this treasure more thriftily, and
have more care, than you had, of the modesty of a poore Maid. Are you not afraid to make her fall into vaine-glorie, and marre all the paines of that good Father that guides her conscience? If J did not furnish her with counter-poison, you would infect her minde, & cast her into a worse maladie than that you cur'd her of. But J haue taught her, that there are a sort of Enchanters that bewitch by com∣mending, and that the wanton Court-ship of Sirens hath allur'd many to their ruines, and filld the Seas with frequent shipwracks. She believes her Glasse, & me too, who are more true to her thē you, and who (without much difficul∣ty) can rectifie her opinion of her∣selfe, which you would have strai∣ned too high. For my own particu∣lar,
J cease not to be your debt or for the quaint extravagances & hy∣perboles, wherein you expresse your Affection towards me; and for her part, separating your com∣mendations from her name, and considering them asunder, by thē∣selves, she esteemes them as the wealth of a Jewellers shop, which indeed may delight her eies, but she findes nothing there that belongs to her. Receive this complement as from her, if you please, J am meerely but her Secretary in this point, and J shall remaine
Sir,
Your &c.
Balzac. 12. Octob. 1636.